Eaton Rapids Attracts Manufacturing Expansion

Company receives MEGA, Will Create Nearly 100 New JobsGovernor John Engler announced today that Meridian Magnesium Products of America, Inc., will expand their Eaton Rapids facility. The facility, which produces instrument panel beams, seat frames, steering column brackets, steering column housings, and transfer cases for the automotive industry, is expected to add 91 new jobs. The company's decision to expand comes after they were awarded a major contract with Visteon, an Enterprise of Ford Motor Company. "Meridian Magnesium Products' decision to expand their Eaton Rapids facility is welcome news to both the state and the local community," Engler said. "I'm proud to announce these new, good paying jobs from a company that could have gone to Canada, but they chose this community." This project is also expected to generate an estimated 66 additional jobs in the state, primarily from increased purchases from Michigan suppliers and spending by people who receive income from the jobs at Meridian Magnesium Products, according to an economic analysis done by the University of Michigan. Engler also announced the approval of a tax credit for Meridian Magnesium Products of America, Inc., worth an estimated $1,502,000 passed by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority. The city of Eaton Rapids was in competition with Meridian Magnesium Products' Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, facility. "The company is pleased to again have the opportunity to partner with the state of Michigan, the City of Eaton Rapids and the local community," said Rick Lumsden, Plant Manager of Meridian Magnesium Products of America Inc. "The state of Michigan was instrumental in bringing this project to Eaton Rapids, and have been very supportive to our company over the past five years of continued growth. We are proud to be active members of the Eaton Rapids community." The Meridian Magnesium Products project will provide approximately $5 million in revenue to the state over the life of the agreement, resulting in a net positive gain to the state of about $3.7 million after the MEGA credit. The project is expected to generate approximately $65 million in personal income. Meridian Magnesium Products officials accepted the credit today at the MEGA board meeting held in Lansing. The company expects the new facility to be operational by April of 2000.